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rv:finding [2020/02/06 11:10] frater_secessus [VIN checks] |
rv:finding [2023/06/29 11:00] (current) mahkato add [know what you're looking for] |
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====== Finding your camper ====== | ====== Finding your camper ====== | ||
+ | ===== Know what you're looking for ===== | ||
- | ===== areas with many good vehicles | + | First, [[rv: |
- | **Florida** has been touted as a place to find commercial campers and RVs. Retirees from the NE plan to RV together in that warm state but either change their mind, upgrade to another RV, or stop RVing because of health or age reasons. | + | |
+ | ===== Limit your search geographically | ||
+ | |||
+ | Unlike buying a car or other common vehicle, there' | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Florida** and **Arizona** has been touted as a place to find commercial campers and RVs. Retirees from the NE plan to RV together in that warm state but either change their mind, upgrade to another RV, or stop RVing because of health or age reasons. | ||
The **American Southwest** is another good place as there is no road salt. Paint can be degraded by "sun fade" | The **American Southwest** is another good place as there is no road salt. Paint can be degraded by "sun fade" | ||
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**Colorado** does not use road salt, relying on gravel instead. | **Colorado** does not use road salt, relying on gravel instead. | ||
- | Vehicles that have not been on the beach in **California** will be in good condition but will generally | + | Vehicles that have not been on the beach in **California** will be in good condition but may be more expensive((http:// |
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ===== Finding vans ===== | ||
+ | Once you know geographically where to look the [[communication: | ||
- | ===== finding vans ===== | + | Take advantage of any automation tools the site offers (email alerts, saved searches, RSS feeds).((it looks like [[https:// |
- | One you know geographically where to look the [[communication:internet: | + | |
- | * [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
- | * [[|ebay motors]] lists vehicles, and you can sort by distance from any zipcode, by cost, etc. | + | * Ebay motors - (leverage saved searches to automate the process) |
- | * [[https:// | + | * [[https:// |
+ | * [[https:// | ||
* local classifieds | * local classifieds | ||
* Facebook marketplace | * Facebook marketplace | ||
* vans you see for sale locally | * vans you see for sale locally | ||
- | * truck sales lots will have cargo vans, box trucks, etc. Some [[rv: | + | * truck sales lots will have cargo vans, box trucks, etc. Some [[rv: |
+ | * Government fleet auctions | ||
+ | * Police auctions | ||
+ | * [[https:// | ||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ===== Vans to look for ===== | ||
- | ===== campers to rule out ===== | + | If you can buy something that already has part of what you want, even better. |
- | ==== VIN checks | + | Former **Ambulances** can make good starters for a built, due to pre-existing high-tops, beefy electrical systems and cabinets. However they often have a lot of hours of idling on them, and many are diesel which are [[rv: |
+ | |||
+ | **Wheelchair Vans** can be great to start with. Many will have fiberglass high roofs added, or larger doors. If you can find one that still has the hydraulic ramp in it, many mobility conversion companies will remove them for free and might even pay you a few hundred dollars for them. | ||
+ | |||
+ | **Passenger vans** can be better than cargo vans, especially the extended [[rv: | ||
+ | |||
+ | The former church or nursing home transportation van is the golden ticket if you can find them for sale. | ||
+ | |||
+ | The downside is they' | ||
+ | |||
+ | ---- | ||
+ | ===== Vans to rule out ===== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Some vans will be a "hard no", as in "walk away". Others may need to be heavily discounted to account for required maintenance, | ||
+ | |||
+ | Also see: [[https:// | ||
+ | ==== Untitled vehicles ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Untitled vehicles can be nightmares. | ||
+ | |||
+ | - "Do you have the title in hand?" | ||
+ | - "Does the name on the title match your ID?" | ||
+ | |||
+ | |||
+ | ==== uninspectable ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Rule out vans from any seller that will not allow the van to be inspected by a mechanic. | ||
+ | |||
+ | ==== Bad VIN ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | The VIN must [[https:// | ||
The [[https:// | The [[https:// | ||
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If your vehicle passes all those you might want to look at the [[https:// | If your vehicle passes all those you might want to look at the [[https:// | ||
- | ==== vehicles | + | ==== Flooded |
- | ==== vehicles from salt belt states ==== | + | In addition to the VIN check above, pay attention to mold/mildew smells. Lift trunk carpet |
- | [[https:// | + | |
- | [[https://en.wikipedia.org/ | + | |
- | Colorado and Utah use non-salt chemicals or gravel on the road. | + | ==== Vehicles from salt belt states ==== |
- | Alaska is too cold for road salt to be used there. | + | Structural rust can cause the vehicle |
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | [[https:// | ||
+ | Colorado and Utah use non-salt chemicals or gravel on the road. | ||
- | ==== untitled vehicles ==== | + | Alaska is often too cold for road salt to be used there, so salt use may vary by area. |
- | Untitled vehicles are nightmares. | ||
- | - "Do you have the title in hand?" | ||
- | - "Does the name on the title match your ID?" | ||
+ | ==== Fixer-Uppers ==== | ||
+ | |||
+ | Don't be tempted by that super-cheap van you found that "needs a little TLC" | ||
+ | //“No van ever cost less than $5,000”// | ||
+ | Don’t start too cheap. Buying beaters or fixer-upper projects is great for people who have a lot of mechanical skills, DIY abilities, and already own a lot of their own tools and have a place to work on it. But if you think you’re going to get an old beater and then pay somebody else to make the repairs, you’re going to end up spending far more money than it would have cost to just buy a more reliable van in the first place. | ||
+ | **Spend more on the van, spend less on the build out.** Spend more of your budget to get a solid and reliable van, and reduce your budget for the interior amenities; you will enjoy a reliable van with a bare-bones interior much more than a fancy interior that is broken down on the side of the road. | ||